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Had this machine for ~ 1 year. Love it. I am strictly a no milk person but bought the island for parties... did not work. Never sat correctly and was way more work than the using the steam wand. Do not go extra for milk island... because the wand is so great. takes a up to 30 seconds until the steam function gets up to pace but this is a home machine but the same for the island. Amazing consistency once it is up to steam. The doser is great but DO NOT overfill. I didn't test before a party and a 30 minute cleanup ensued. Of course the doser was for the decaf people so they were chill but... should have had it figured out better. Substantial downside..... this thing is LOUD. but a good thing... it is LOUD. I am going back to the daily wakeup because I have a new routine and this is a backup to the alarm. Sturdily built; great alarms for water, filters, grounds; easy maintenance; looks pretty. Liked it more than I thought I would and don't regret the cash outlay. My ratings exclude the island which would bring them down.
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Gaggia Platinum Swing Up
and Free shipping over $50, no sales tax!
You Save $269.80 (20%)Comes with the following items:
- Extended Warranty - 1 year
- Gaggia Milk Island - Black ($129.00 value)
Also Available As: Refurbished
Colors (Click to See Larger Image):
4.8 Out of 5
May We Also Recommend
Features
Gaggia’s focus on innovation optimizes the machine’s simplicity, ease of use, and most importantly, the quality of each shot of espresso. The Gaggia Platinum Swing Up is characterized by a user-friendly interface – a circular dial in the center works similar to an iPod click wheel, allowing you to swing your finger to select the function. Above this touch ring dial is the 24-character LCD screen, which shows your beverage options and programming choices.
Beneath the exterior lies the heavy-duty stainless steel Rapid Steam boiler system, which allows you to switch between brewing and steaming and back without the down time normally associated with warming up and cooling down. With the Rapid Steam boiler system and Gaggia Milk Island , you’re sure to have any of a menu of drinks – café americano, latte, espresso, café crema, cappuccino, café breve – whenever you want it, and how many you want. A Rapid Steam boiler system is what truly elevates the Gaggia Platinum Swing Up into the realm of high-class espresso machine.
Features & Benefits: Coffee
Click-Wheel Programming
The backlit touch ring is the center of the programming menu, and at its center is the confirmation button, signified by an icon of a coffee cup. Above the wheel is a digital LCD screen, which works to guide you through programming and functions. To the left of the wheel are two backlit buttons – the top one has the letter M above a down arrow, and brings you to the menu. The bottom button has a coffee bean icon, and is for changing the coffee dosage from 7-10.5 grams, as well as for using the bypass doser. To the right of the wheel are another two buttons. The top one shows a burst of steam and is for the steam wand, and the bottom one has a droplet of water as an icon and dispenses hot water.
Menu Options
Entering into the menu allows you to customize each of your beverages. You can set your preferences for the quantity of coffee to be brewed, coffee temperature, and pre-infusion in the “beverage settings” sub-menu. The “machine settings” sub-menu allows you to change or adjust the language, water hardness, acoustic alarms, filter alerts, rinsing, cup-warming surface, and clock settings. The other sub-menus – maintenance, energy savings, and special functions – allow for descaling, water filter adjustments, washing the brew group, entering into standby mode, and returning all functions to their factory settings.
Design
Above and to the right of the programming menu are two buttons with arrows and an icon of a coffee cup to raise and lower the cup tray. Below the cup tray buttons are the words “Gaggia Platinum Swing Up,” a design touch neither too subtle nor too over the top. Below the programming menu are the coffee dispenser and Espresso Plus System. To the left of this dispenser is the steam wand. On the right side of the machine is the on/off button as well as the door to access the brew group; since the machine is placed on a swivel base, you can rotate the machine to easily reach the back and sides.
Brewing – Double or Single?
Your machine is preset to brew an espresso coffee, short coffee, or long coffee. Use the click wheel to select your preferred drink, and then press the confirmation button once for a single shot, and twice for a double.
Rapid Steam Technology
The Rapid Steam boiler system means that you can switch back and forth between brewing and steaming, without having to wait for the machine to warm up or cool down. The Gaggia Platinum Swing uses a stainless steel boiler due to stainless steel’s durability and heat retention properties.
Grinder
The ceramic burr grinder grinds quietly, keeping your mornings peaceful. Each time you brew, the grinder grinds the amount of beans needed for the shot. The sealed plastic bean hopper holds 8.8 oz of beans, keeping them fresh – its clear plastic cover means you can monitor bean levels easily, or the machine will also let you know when you’re running low. To adjust your grind to fine, medium, or coarse, use the supplied grinder key to turn the pin located inside the grinder.
Bypass Doser
If you or one of your guests prefers a blend other than what is already in the hopper, you can use pre-ground coffee in the bypass doser. Select your beverage, and then press the coffee bean button until the pre-ground option appears on the LCD screen. Press the confirmation button, add coffee using the included measuring scoop, and press the confirmation button again to begin brewing
Espresso Plus System
The Espresso Plus System is a knob located on your coffee dispenser that allows you to adjust the body and intensity of any beverage, even while you’re brewing. Turn the knob to the left for a mild brew, leave it in the middle for a normal drink, and turn it to the right for a more intense drink.
Cup Lift
For the ultimate ease in brewing, the Gaggia Platinum Vision uses an electronic cup lift, so you can raise and lower the cup tray depending on the size of your cups. Press the top arrow to raise it and the bottom to lower it so you can fit cups of different heights under the coffee dispenser.
Stainless Steel Active Cup Warmer
The active cup warmer is located on the top of the machine towards the front. You can fit about four of your demitasse cups on it, depending on their size. The stainless steel active cup warmer pre-heats your cups; by brewing espresso into a warm cup, it loses heat less rapidly and the crema is better preserved. Use the programming menu to turn the cup warmer on or off.
Features & Benefits: Frothing and Hot Water
Pannarello Steam Wand
The Pannarello attachment makes foaming and steaming easy, even if you’re just learning. The steam wand also rotates out, giving you ultimate leverage each time you steam. Press the steam button and turn the steam knob located on the left side. The display screen will read, “brewing in progress steam” as steam is dispensed from the wand. Once you’re finished, close the knob.
Hot Water
The steam wand also dispenses hot milk for tea, an americano, or instant soup. Press the instant hot water button located under the steam button and open the steam knob. The LCD screen will read, “brewing in progress hot water” as hot water is dispensed into your waiting cup. Close the steam knob to stop the flow of water.
Gaggia Milk Island
You can froth and steam by hand using the Pannarello wand, or you can use the Gaggia Milk Island. This automatic frother connects to the Platinum Swing Up's steam system, foaming and steaming up to 13.5 oz of milk with the turn of a knob.
Features & Benefits: Care, Maintenance & Other
Water System with Aqua Prima Water Filter
The 57 oz water reservoir is removable from the back of the machine – just turn the Gaggia Platinum Swing Up on its swivel base, and pull out the reservoir like a drawer. It comes with an Aqua Prima Water Filter, which was developed to remove impurities from your tap water than can alter the taste of the espresso. When descaling is necessary, the LCD screen will alert you and guide you through the process.
Cleaning the Brew Group and Spent Grounds Box
On the right side of the Gaggia Platinum Swing Up is a service door, which you can open to access the brew group and spent coffee grounds box. The brew group can be removed and rinsed with running water – this removes coffee residue and oils, keeping your espresso tasting fresh. About once a month, a brew group cleaning cycle should also be performed by entering the programming menu, selecting maintenance, and selecting “group wash.” The spent coffee grounds box holds 14 spent portions, and the Gaggia Platinum Swing Up will alert you when it needs to be emptied and cleaned.
Included Accessories
The Gaggia Platinum Swing Up comes with an Aqua Prima water filter, ground coffee measuring scoop, water hardness test strip, grinder adjustment key, lubricant for the brew group, and power cable.
The Buzz
Gaggia Platinum Swing Up Blogs
Gaggia Milk Island
Posted By: Michael Rosso
Posted At: Oct 17, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Related Categories:
Coffee and Espresso,
Super Automatic Espresso Machines
880 views
Gaggia Milk Island Review:
What I like about this product:
- Speed
- The time it takes to have hot, frothed milk with the milk island is only about a minute.
- Cleaning - If using throughout the day, simply rinse the carafe out and fill with regular water, then run some steam through the milk island with clean water instead of milk. When done for the day, the milk island can easily be disassembled and rinsed off with warm water in the sink.
- Separate From Machine - Some milk frothing devices siphon milk through the machine which can cause problems if not cleaned properly. The milk island is completely separate from the machine and should you forget to clean the milk island over extended periods of time or the device some how gets damaged you are only replacing the milk island and not a $1000+ machine.
What I would change about this product:
- Capacity - The carafe on the milk island only hold enough milk to make approximately two regular cappuccinos.
- Initial Assembly
The base that the milk island sits on attaches to the bottom of the machine which can be awkward when first installing the device. I recommend leaving the milk island attached once it is on.
Customer Match/ Recommended Use:
The Gaggia Milk island is a wonderful accessory to the Gaggia Platinum series machines. The milk island produces good froth with little effort and is recommended for those that do not want to steam their milk manually. Due to its ease of use and hands free operation, the milk island is also very helpful when entertaining and making many beverages in a row.
Gaggia Platinum Series Comparison
Posted By: Michael Rosso
Posted At: Sep 20, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Related Categories:
Super Automatic Espresso Machines
674 views
Very often we field sales calls that ask the question “What are differences between the Gaggia Vision, Platinum Swing Up and the Platinum Vogue?” It's true they look very similar, and they are in many ways. So to aid you in your search for the perfect espresso machine, I just finished shooting a video that walks you through the differences in these machines.
Cup Warmers
Posted By: Whole Latte Love Staff
Posted At: Jun 13, 2011 at 8:52 AM
Related Categories:
Semi Automatic Espresso Machines,
Super Automatic Espresso Machines
650 views
In this video I will go over the difference between a passive cup warmer and an active cup warmer. You will see that it does make a difference using a passive cup warmer versus an active cup warmer. I hope this video will be helpful. Happy Brewing!
The Cafe Americano
Posted By: Michael Rosso
Posted At: Mar 30, 2011 at 8:57 AM
Related Categories:
Coffee and Espresso
573 views
The Café Americano was created during World War II, when the American GIs were stationed in Europe. The Americans did not like the taste of espresso and/or the amount of coffee in the cup. Americans, up to that point, had grown accustomed to the taste of coffee fresh brewed from a percolator. So, to solve this dilemma the Café Americano was created by mixing the fresh brewed espresso with hot water.
The beauty of the Café Americano is that you can custom make it. Some people say that you need to mix espresso and hot water in a one-to-one ratio, which tastes great. But, you can also experiment and create your own recipe. In this video, Darren and I will demonstrate how to make a Café Americano. Enjoy; I hope you will be inspired to brew your own Café Americano right at home.
How To Choose An Espresso Machine
Posted By: Mark Jackson
Posted At: Feb 8, 2011 at 3:29 PM
Related Categories:
Coffee Talk
8372 views
If you would like to know a little about the many types of espresso machines we sell, this would be a good video to get you started. This video covers the machines we sell and based on your lifestyle, what you like to drink, and ease of use. It will give you an overview of different espresso machines and help you determine which one best suits to your needs.
I would watch the video and focus on a particular kind of machine—prosumer, semi-automatic, and super-automatic to decide which kind is ideal for you. Then, you can go and look at individual models to get a better idea of exactly what you want. Of course, if you narrow it down to a few espresso machines and are still undecided, give us a call and we would be glad to help!
Gaggia Milk Island Tips
Posted By: Daniel Moraldo
Posted At: Oct 19, 2010 at 2:17 PM
Related Categories:
Accessories
1073 views
This video goes over everything that you need to know about the Gaggia Milk Island. I have used the milk island for quite some time and would like to share my tips and tricks with you. Enjoy!
Specifications
| Housing Material | |
| Housing | Stainless Steel & ABS |
| Drip Tray | Plastic |
| Drip Tray Cover | Stainless Steel |
| Brew Group | |
| Material | Plastic |
| Self-Cleaning | No |
| Coffee Controls | |
| Cup Volume Control | Yes, Three cup sizes |
| Pre-infusion | Yes |
| Bypass Doser | Yes |
| Back Pressure Relief Valve | Yes |
| Temperature Control | Yes |
| Energy Savings | Yes |
| Adjustable Doser | 7-10.5 Grams |
| Programmable | Yes |
| Serving Count Indicator | Yes |
| Housing | |
| Housing Material | Stainless Steel & ABS |
| Drip Tray | Plastic |
| Drip Tray Cover | Stainless Steel |
| Boiler Data | |
| Material | Stainless steel-lined aluminum |
| Wattage | 1500 |
| # of Heating Elements | One |
| Pump Data | |
| Type | Vibration |
| Maximum Pressure | 15 bar |
| Brewing Pressure | 8-9 bar |
| Self Priming Pump | Yes |
| Grinder Data | |
| # of Grind Settings | 3 |
| Hopper Capacity | 8.8 oz |
| Control Panel Display | |
| Digital Display | Yes LCD |
| Indicator Lights | Touch Sensative Buttons |
| Out of Beans | Yes |
| Out of Water | Yes |
| Dump Box Full | Yes |
| Brew Group Problem | Yes |
| Decalcification Indicator | Yes |
| Hot Rinse Cycle | Yes |
| Cleaning Cycle | Yes |
| Steam Wand Data | |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Frothing Adapter | Pannarello Wand |
| Frothing Material | Stainless Steel |
| Height off Counter | 4.5" |
| Length | 4.5" |
| Automatic Frother | Included w/ machine |
| Cup Warmer | |
| Size | 8" x 5" |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Passive/Active | Active |
| Reservoir | |
| Material | Plastic (BPA free) |
| Capacity | 57 oz |
| Removable | Yes |
| Height to Remove | 0 - remove from side |
| Water Filter | Aqua Prima |
 |
|
4.8 Out of 5
Number of Reviews by Rating
Purchased the Platinum Swing Up machine for use in my cigar store after extensive research and a lot of counsel from Randy on the sales staff. For my store, where I give complimentary coffee to about 10-15 customers a day, this machine has been perfect so far (2 weeks of use). Each espresso takes about 45 seconds, and coffee quality has been good - nice crema, strong flavor. I can't comment on the milk island, as I dropped and broke it on day 1, but the steam wand works very well. Other excellent features: - programmable stand-by and on/off timer, great for a store like mine - ability to add ground coffee, like decaf, for a cup without hassle (just add to the opening in the top) - Takes 3 seconds to select and start brewing - has small wheels that allow you to spin the machine to remove parts, water reservoir with minimal hassle - start-up cleaning process is great for making sure coffee doesn't come out contaminated with old grounds There are a few things I don't like. The water reservoir is a little small; I prefer a larger container. The control wheel is finicky, making it a little hard to select things without trial and error. The warming plate on top is not particularly warm. Perhaps that's the intent, but I think it needs to be 20-30 degrees warmer. Last, the instructions are extensive, but don't give a lot of insight into the meaning of certain settings. For example, how, specifically, does a low setting versus a higher setting for strength of brew affect the coffee flavor or quantity of beans used? These are minor issues, though. Overall, I love this machine, and hope it continues to perform well over time. Also, kudos to Randy for his excellent help and support.
I purchased my new Gaggia Platinum Swing Up about 8 months ago. I use the machine several times a day for cappuccinos and straight espresso. I love the fact that it is so easy to create my morning cappuccino. All I have to do is add the milk to the milk island and turn the steam knob. Steam is induced from the bottom, creating great frothed milk every time. When I'm ready for my espresso all I have to do is press the center cup button and my espresso is dispensed. With this machine I am able to go into the program options which is very easy because the control panel is the same as my Ipod. I can adjust the temperature, dosage, water volume, and the rate of flow of the water. This allows me to dial in my person setting for the best espresso. I would recommend the Platinum Swing Up to anyone looking for a great super automatic machine.
Nice machine
How Long Have I Been Using This Product?
1 - 6 months
What's Best About this Product?
The general ease of use
Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:
put 1/2 the milk in the island and 1/2 in the microwave.
My Experience With Using This Product:
Coffee Lover
The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:
Variety
Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:
The milk island is not large enough to make a nice mug.
Some of the Other Machines I've Used:
Simpler manual machines.
Wonderful machine. Easy to use. Lots of customization available, but you have to read the manual carefully. Makes great espresso, cappuccino, & lattes. The milk island works well, makes silky foam with 1% and 2% milk (even Lactaid!). Crema adjustment is a nice feature. Easy to clean. Our unit had a problem - the warning to let you know that the bean hopper is getting low didn't work, so we occasionally would brew water instead of coffee. Sent the unit back and are awaiting a replacement.
How Long Have I Been Using This Product?
Less than 1 month
What's Best About this Product?
Makes nice rich coffee and espresso. Makes excellent foam with panerello wand and milk island. Easy to clean. Easy to customize.
My Experience With Using This Product:
Coffee Lover
The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:
Lavazza Super Crema Torreo Italian Roast Decaf
Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:
The touch pad is VERY sensitive and will activate if your finger gets near. The clock should be displayed when the unit goes into standby instead of displaying the word STANDBY. Our unit had a problem - the warning to let you know that the bean hopper is getting low didn't work, so we occasionally would brew water instead of coffee. Sent the unit back and we are awaiting a replacement.
Some of the Other Machines I've Used:
Capresso
Let me break it down for you-I LOVE this machine. For the first few months it was the first thing I thought about when I woke up, just the thought of rich, aromatic lattes or coffee was enough to get me very excited. Even now I'm very bummed if I can't have my latte in the morning. You will love it too...save your money and buy this one
How Long Have I Been Using This Product?
Less than 1 month
What's Best About this Product?
that I can press a button and have excellent coffee in my home that is as good as any coffee house or starbucks for a fraction of the cost.
Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:
use very good beans as recommended(lavazza excellent), I live in a hard water area and use a brita water pitcher to refill the water resovoir, lattes are best with half and half- work out more,life is short, enjoy your coffee
My Experience With Using This Product:
Beginner
The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:
lavazza
Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:
bigger water resovoir or an option of continous water supply, better instruction book or DVD for such an investment in cadillac of machine
Some of the Other Machines I've Used:
otc coffee makers (yuck)
I bought this machine for my husband for Christmas, 2009 and he is absolutely thrilled with it! I was worried about several things such as the temperature of the steam/water to the grinding and the maintenance of the machine. But my husband assures me that he couldn't have asked for a better machine. I'm not a coffee drinker....never liked it but I do like steamed milk and the steaming wand works wonderfully!
How Long Have I Been Using This Product?
Less than 1 month
What's Best About this Product?
How easy it is to use it, clean it and how happy it made my husband!
My Experience With Using This Product:
Coffee Lover
The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:
Blue Bottle from San Francisco
Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:
The warming tray at the top doesn't work very well at all so we heat up our cups with hot water.
Some of the Other Machines I've Used:
None
Great machine, very quiet. Very easy to use once you figure how the click wheel works. I didn't think i would use the milk island but i tried it and use it all the time. The removable brew group is very nice. I am have a couple of problems with. THe bypass doser it works empty but once i put in some grounds in 1 out of 10 times. The other is the low/out of beans read out doesn't work most of the time.
How Long Have I Been Using This Product?
1 - 6 months
What's Best About this Product?
Makes a great cup of espresso and it is quiet
My Experience With Using This Product:
Coffee Lover
The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:
Lavazza Dark Roast
Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:
Larger water grounds storage
Some of the Other Machines I've Used:
Jura E7
I use this machine every day and have for the past 8 months. It is very well designed, easy to use and has been very reliable. It's also pretty easy to clean and maintain. The steaming wand works pretty much perfectly every time and the "swing up" feature is actually more useful than you might think. I typically walk away while my milk steams since I'm able to set the shelf to the proper height. Froth is great every time as long as you keep the wand clean, which is simple.
How Long Have I Been Using This Product?
6 - 12 months
What's Best About this Product?
Consistent brew. Ease of use. Auto-on/off timer.
Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:
Power it off as opposed to standby if you're cleaning the front surfaces. If you barely brush the front it activates the machine.
My Experience With Using This Product:
Coffee Lover
The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:
Lavazza
Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:
Larger grounds drawer, it's actually pretty large but just a couple of pulls and it indicates full usually, no big deal to empty though.
Some of the Other Machines I've Used:
Capresso Fully Auto, Gaggia Semi
I love this machine...I dialed in my shot and now just push the button for heaven! Milk Island is also excellent take the guess work out of steaming milk!
How Long Have I Been Using This Product?
Less than 1 month
My Experience With Using This Product:
Coffee Lover
The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:
Buzzopolis... so far
Some of the Other Machines I've Used:
delonghi and spidem
We bought this machine about 2 1/2 months ago after much research. I even called several retailers to ask their opinions. All stated the Gaggia was going to be my favorite but Whole Latte Love's customer service went above and beyond, asking all sorts of questions pertaining to how I would use the machine. Two very nice agents helped me choose the Gaggia Swing Up (two agents, because they put up nicely with me calling twice!). I am an espresso lover, mostly make mochas and lattes and my husband drinks straight coffee. It only took us one day to set up our preferences for each of our individual drink settings. I am IN LOVE with this machine!! It makes the best mocha I have ever had and my picky husband says the same for the straight coffee. Clean up is a breeze and I love the way the drink dock lifts and lowers depending on your cup size. I honestly can't find one complaint. The only thing I can think of is that I wish I had built our kitchen around this machine...I would have made room for it on the same counter as the sink so that I could better dispose of the little liquid that comes out when the machine turns on and produces the shot that comes out when testing.
How Long Have I Been Using This Product?
1 - 6 months
What's Best About this Product?
Quality of coffee produced, looks, size, brewing capabilities. Love the way it swivels!!!!!
Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:
Put it on same counter as sink.
My Experience With Using This Product:
Coffee Lover
The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:
Lavazza Crema
Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:
Can't think of anything!
Some of the Other Machines I've Used:
Gaggia Coffee
I bought this machine a few days ago. So far, I am very pleased with my choice. The milk island is a must, stop automatically and give perfect lattes. Lots of espresso settings to get it exactly the way you like it. The only downside is that you have to make several cups before your settings become perfect (default settings suck). Much easier to clean than my old baby Gaggia and you can make the perfect cappuccino or latte in a few minutes. So fast, that I had to buy some decaf to not run to high on caffeine ;-)
How Long Have I Been Using This Product?
Less than 1 month
What's Best About this Product?
Milk island. Motorized bottom plate. Lots of espresso settings.
Some Helpful Tips For Using this Product:
Change coffee settings for the highest coffee temperature and stronger flavor.
My Experience With Using This Product:
Coffee Lover
The Coffee I've Tried With This Product:
Lavazza Super Crema
Some Improvements I Would Recommend for This Product:
Milk island robustness. Made of many small plastic parts which would probably not survive many years of usage.
Some of the Other Machines I've Used:
Baby Gaggia
Brewing (2) | Troubleshooting (2) | all expert answers (4)
Expert Answers
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The E. Plus system adds an extra level of control by letting you increase or decrease the flow rate of your espresso. A decreased (restricted) flow will give you a stronger, more robust flavor, since the water and grounds are infusing for a longer period of time. If you have a very robust bean, but want a mild brew, you simply turn the dial counterclockwise so the water flows faster.
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You can increase the temperature of your drink anywhere from 10-20 degrees by adjusting the machine’s temperature settings and ensuring that all of your brewing components are preheated properly:
1. If your machine has adjustable temperature, enter into the machine’s menu mode and choose the temperature setting you want.
2. While in menu mode, verify that the rinse mode is turned on. The rinse feature runs a quick dose of hot water through the brew spout upon startup. This helps to warm up the internal components of the machine, and also rinses away any coffee build-up that might alter the taste of your espresso.
3. Run water through your hot water spout and into your cup. This accomplishes two things- It helps to preheat the internal components and it heats the cup as well.Comments (1)
03/21/09 at 08:16 PM by Stuart Daniels
If you're talking espresso, and using ceramic cups, pre-heat your cup. 1 oz of espresso in a cold cup = 1 cup of tepid espresso.
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There are several possible causes of this problem. Please follow the instructions below to solve it.
Solution 1
The most common solution to this problem is to ensure that the inner piece of the frothing wand is properly in place. To do this, follow these instructions:
Click here for a diagram
Note: Your wand may look slightly different than the wand pictured in the diagram, but the same instructions apply.
1) Remove the black plastic outer sleeve of the Frothing Wand (some models have a metal outer sleeve). If done correctly, the “sleeve” has been removed, but the inner wand with red or black washer, is still connected to the machine.
2) The part of the sleeve assembly that you have removed is comprised of 2 pieces, the frothing sleeve and the center piece. The center piece can be seen if you look into the top of the wand.
3) Using a pencil (eraser end), or similar shaped object, push down on the center piece until an audible “click” is heard. The “click” means that the centerpiece is back into the proper position. When in the proper position, the center piece visibly sticks out the bottom of the sleeve about ¼-inch. It looks like a bird beak.
4) Now put the sleeve back on the machine and your machine should be ready to froth again.
Note: To prevent clogging, purge the steam wand after frothing milk and wipe off any excess milk with a wet cloth. We still recommend a thorough cleaning periodically as the milk can still build up inside the wand. The wand can easily be taken totally apart for cleaning.
Solution 2
The second most common solution to this problem is that the pinhole near the tip of the Frothing Wand has become clogged. If this happens, the machine will heat the milk but no froth will form. To fix this, follow these instructions:
1) Remove the black plastic outer sleeve of the Frothing Wand (some models have a metal outer sleeve). If done correctly, the “sleeve” has been removed, but the inner wand with red or black washer, is still connected to the machine.
2) Hold the Frothing Wand in your hand so you can see the top portion clearly (the top being the part that usually attaches to the machine, and the bottom is the part that goes into the milk).
3) There is a single pinhole on the side of the Frothing Wand about ¼-inch down from the top. It is very small—literally a pinhole. You will need to clear this out. A sewing needle or pushpin is small enough to fit through. Make sure this is thoroughly cleaned out.
4) Now put the sleeve back on the machine and your machine should be ready to froth again.
Note: To prevent clogging, purge the steam wand after frothing milk and wipe off any excess milk with a wet cloth. We still recommend a thorough cleaning periodically as the milk can still build up inside the wand. The wand can easily be taken totally apart for cleaning.
Solution 3
If the first two solutions do not work, you may need to replace your frothing wand. Visit our Parts page below to purchase a replacement.Comments (2)
10/12/09 at 06:30 PM by Darren Ruffell
As long as you are purging and wiping down immediately you should not have to remove after every use. I’d recommend soaking it in a dish detergent once a week for a ½ hr or so and then rinsing thoroughly. Hope this helps. Happy Brewing.
01/22/09 at 07:36 PM by Brian Stone
If you purge the wand and wipe it down immediately does it still need to be removed and cleaned after every use?
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Your machine is designed to count how many shots you’re brewing and then tell you to empty the dump box when it reaches the maximum shot count. The machine does not weigh the dump box or use any sensors to verify if it is in fact full, so if you empty the dump box before it asks you to, it will continue counting.
For example, if it reads "empty dump box" when there is only one puck in there, then you simply need to reset the machine so it can begin counting your shots properly. To do this, just remove the dump box while the machine is on and giving you the "empty dump box" message. Then, leave it out for about 30 seconds so that the machine knows to reset the count to 0. Finally, replace the dump box and the message should go away.
If this does not solve the problem, contact us and we will help you test the micro switch to make sure it is working properly.
